 NJ TRANSIT will extend its No. 123 bus route in Jersey City starting Saturday, April 5, to replace the former routing of Coach USAs 99S bus service along Palisade Avenue.

"Thanks to the efforts of Jersey City Heights residents, as well as Assemblyman Prieto and Mayor Healy, our work with NJ TRANSIT achieved the desired result of getting 123 bus service extended along Palisade Avenue," said State Senator Nicholas J. Sacco. "This direct bus service to and from New York is essential to the community and its members who rely on it to get to work, school, medical appointments and more."

"We appreciate the commitment demonstrated by members of the Riverview Neighborhood Association and concerned residents who fought for the return of direct New York bus service to the Jersey City Heights," said Assemblyman Vincent Prieto. "When the 123 route is extended next month, we urge residents to take advantage of the service for their daily transportation needs."

"We are pleased that residents of the Heights will have direct bus service to New York restored, providing access to employment sites, education centers and leisure activities," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "We will encourage commuters to utilize the No. 123 bus, and we will continue to work with NJ TRANSIT to improve mass transportation for our public."

"The extension of the 123 bus route, together with the creation of the recently introduced No. 6 Ocean Avenue route, demonstrates our commitment to serving the bus customers in Jersey City who depend on public transportation for their day-to-day needs," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. "We appreciate the interest of community leaders in championing robust public transportation."

The No. 123 bus route will be extended from the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Congress Street Station to Christ Hospital, located at Palisade and Beacon avenues in Jersey City. The extended route will operate along Palisade Avenue through Jersey City and Union City to and from New York, serving most off-peak and weekend trips, and some peak-period weekday trips.

Beginning on Saturday, April 5, No. 123 service will operate as follows:

Weekdays:

To New York  Between 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., with service approximately every 30 minutes in the AM peak and hourly off-peak.

To Jersey City  Between 8:20 a.m. and 1 a.m., with service approximately every hour until 4:20 p.m., then approximately every 30 minutes in the PM peak and evening.

Weekends:

To New York  Hourly from 7:15 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. on Sundays.

To Jersey City  Hourly from 7:15 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. on Sundays.

Fares:

The one-way adult fare for service to and from New York at points south of Congress Street in Jersey City will be $3.40 (three zones).

NJ TRANSIT will monitor ridership levels through the end of the year and make service adjustments as necessary.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.